Things for which I am grateful Thanksgiving 2021

I am grateful to God for another year, for health and wholeness, for provision and protection, for family and friends, for faith and freedom. I am grateful for Thanksgiving hymns that express a heart of thankfulness, hymns like Come, Ye Thankful People, Come; We gather Together; and Faith of Our Fathers. We are so blessed to live in the United States of America. I am also grateful for and share the sentiments of songs like America, the Beautiful; My Country, ’Tis of Thee; all the verses of The Star Spangled Banner; God Bless the U.S.A.; and God Bless America.
I am thankful for:

A culture of life rather than death
A culture of truth rather than relativism
A culture of capitalism rather than socialism
A culture of individuality rather than collectivism
A culture that prizes traditional marriage and the family
A culture that appreciates history rather than cancel culture
A culture of the rule of law rather than the tyranny of the majority
A culture that appreciates Liberty, In God We Trust, and E Pluribus Unum
A culture that reflects a Judeo-Christian value system and individual conscience
A culture that values and rewards hard work, personal discipline, and the Golden Rule
A culture that values common sense over wokeness, expert opinion, and political correctness
A culture that values one race—the human race—over skin color, ethnicity, national origin or religion
A culture that thrives on individual self-government, voluntarism, and limited, decentralized government

This is the America our Pilgrim fathers, founding fathers, and patriots envisioned and for which they sacrificed. This is the America for which our veterans fought and died. This is the America that past generations have sought to pass on to future generations. This is the American Dream. This is my America. And this continues to be my prayer for America.

O beautiful for pilgrim feet whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare of freedom beat across the wilderness! 
America! America! God mend thine every flaw, 
Confirm thy soul in self-control, thy liberty in law!
(America, the Beautiful – verse 2)

We all do extol Thee, Thou leader triumphant,
And pray that Thou still our defender wilt be.
Let Thy congregation escape tribulation;
Thy name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!
(We Gather Together – verse 3)

Come, ye thankful people, come, raise the song of harvest home; 
All is safely gathered in, ere the winter storms begin. 
God our Maker doth provide for our wants to be supplied; 
Come to God’s own temple, come, raise the song of harvest home.
(Come, Ye Thankful People, Come – verse 1)

Our father’s God, to Thee, Author of liberty, to Thee we sing.
Long may our land be bright with freedom’s holy light;
Protect us by Thy might, Great God, our King!
(My Country ’Tis of Thee – verse 4)

O! thus be it ever when free men shall stand
Between their loved homes and the foe’s desolation;
Bless’d with victory and peace, may our Heav’n-rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation
Then conquer we must, for our cause it is just —
And this be our motto — “In God is our trust!”
And the Star-spangled Banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
(Star-Spangled Banner – verse 4)

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Remembering Congressman Todd Akin

Decades ago,  I came to the understanding that God’s calling was not just into church-related ministry, but that God could assign any field of work as a ministry and a platform for living and sharing His truth. Over the years, I had made the acquaintance of many Christians in the field of politics, but only a handful would I have considered to be “Christian politicians” and “Christian statesmen.” Todd Akin was one of those. As his constituent, I began to observe how he handled himself in his office. I inquired as to how he made legislative decisions and the standards he used. I observed his relationships with constituents, his staff, his co-workers, as well as his family and friends. Todd was genuine through and through. 

We became friends through his relationship with The Pillar Foundation and the St. Louis Teen Eagles organization. Todd had spoken or taught dozens of times over the years. (His favorite topic? The Pilgrims-handsdown!) My son met his wife working in the Akin campaign and, actually, is “in-laws-in-law” with the Akin family. Todd and Lulli had homeschooled their children, as we did, and we had the privilege of getting to meet them and work alongside a few of them. Authentic, authentic, authentic! I met Todd’s parents…again authentic. Three generations of the genuine article—loving, honoring, and serving our Heavenly Father; loving and honoring His Word; and loving, honoring and serving others. It doesn’t get more real than that! 

One quick story: a few years ago, while I laid in the hospital ICU recovering from a sudden cardiac arrest, Todd and Lulli and Wynn somehow got permission to bring their guitar and keyboard into my ICU room and play and sing a few songs and hymns. With compassion and joy, they encouraged my heart! Literally encouraged my heart! (“A merry heart is good medicine!” says Proverbs 17:22) I will forever be grateful.

Whether it was in the midst of victory or defeat, good times and hard times, health and infirmity, the character of Christ was revealed in Todd. He loved his family, he loved his church, he loved his friends and neighbors, he loved his work, and he loved his country. In Todd’s life, Jesus’ story of the faithful servant is once again exemplified. “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter now into the joy of your Lord.” Todd’s faith is becoming sight! Along with that great cloud of witnesses, Todd has run his race and now, with the others, encourages all of us to lay aside those things that encumber us, and fixing our eyes on our Lord and Savior, run our race as he did, with endurance, with passion, and with joy.

This Bible passage encourages me today. It is reality for Todd and it is hope for us—2 Corinthians 5:1-9:

“For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked. For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life. Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge. Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord— for we walk by faith, not by sight— we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.” 

Today, Leah and I pray God’s warmest comfort and God’s perfect peace for all of Todd’s family and friends. God bless you all!

W. Todd Akin
1947-2021

Todd Akin was a Christian, a family man, an engineer, a student of American history, and a public servant. He served 12 years in the Missouri House of Representatives and 12 years in the U.S. House of Representatives.

I know it’s early, but get ready for Emmanuel before Christmas!

Some great music and the shepherd’s Christmas story: Emmanuel–God with us!

Here is just the shepherd’s 24min. video:

‘Groupthink’ subverts the main thing.

Someone once said, “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.”

Spontaneous mob violence, like what happened in D.C. yesterday, is just a form of “groupthink.”  Bandwagoning is another form of it.

But those leaders who condemn the violence (and it should be condemned) can also get sidetracked by the “groupthink” and miss the opportunity to lead on the real issues. The focus of election security reform and defending our Constitution is too easy to lose in the heat of the condemnation of violence. Violators should be condemned, apprehended and removed from the general public. And in the same way, national leaders who will not stand up, focus on the truth and act, should also be condemned and removed from public office. You have no business running a country if you just react and do not thoughtfully act. The middle ground has gone. Fair-weather patriotism is history. If Congress does not ask “why?” and thoughtfully act, the people will.

“THESE are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated”  – Thomas Paine, The American Crisis No. 1, December 1776

Daniel 11:32b – “but the people who know their God will display strength and take action”

Truth be told–Truth be sold?

I long for the day when truth will again be told and not sold to the highest bidder. God help us.

These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; 
render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace;
– Zechariah 8:16

How will I vote? – 2

The principles found in Scripture are the key to making decisions in life. This is true for all kinds of decisions, including political and civic ones. America’s founders were Biblically literate people who understood truth and how it applies to life. In constructing a new nation, they took history, political philosophy, and a genuine understanding of the nature of man, and they studied all through the lens of a Biblical worldview. These ideals were woven into the fabric of this new American government, reflecting a genuine bottom-up versus top-down government, they called self-government. Self-government is individual, local, as well as national. They sought to honor God in their deliberations, and I believe they succeeded. It is my desire to honor God as I exercise my important civic responsibility of casting my vote for issues and individuals who represent me.

Without going through the specific Scriptures that point to these ideals, here is a principled view as to how I will be voting:

I am voting for life.
I am voting for liberty.
I am voting for family.
I am voting for faith-friendly policies.
I am voting for free-markets.
I am voting for smaller, more efficient government. 
I am voting for national and state sovereignty.
I am voting for freedom-loving Constitutionalists with consistent policies.
Because I am voting for my kids, grandkids, family, friends, and neighbors,
I am voting Pro-American Values, One Nation Under God, In God We Trust!

Oppositely, I am voting against, and will always vote against:

• Progressivism/Socialism
• Globalism
• The Deep State
• Statism – Big, Centralized Government
• The Political Class
• The DC Swamp
• Abortion on Demand
• And the Mainstream Media that promotes the above

“Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor – and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.”

– George Washington’s Thanksgiving Proclamation of 1789

Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s…” – Luke 20:25

“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. For such is the will of God, that by doing right you silence the ignorance of foolish people. Act as free people, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bond-servants of God. Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.” – 1 Peter 2:13-17

How will I vote?

 It’s all about worldviews. And that is a far more complex issue than can be fully discussed in this short format. My faith in Christ and His Word inform my worldview. I believe in a perfect world…we just don’t happen to live in it! The world is broken and so are the people in it. That includes me and you and Trump and Biden and any other candidate, and for that matter, any person on the planet. People are flawed, so cultures are flawed and governments are flawed, too. Governments and cultures cannot fix themselves because people cannot fix themselves. We need outside help! The problem is, we don’t want to admit that. We want to hold on to the power structures we have whether personal, political, social, economic, or whatever. Our founding fathers understood the nature of man all too well. That is why they fashioned a form of government with limited, decentralized powers and many, many checks and balances within and between levels of government.

As I have studied our Constitution and the principles in the Declaration of Independence upon which the Constitution was built, I cannot help but see a reflection of Biblical and Christian ideals inspiring our founding documents. It is those principles and ideals that I support and vote for. I could lay out many of those ideals for you, but not here. Let me unfold just one. The Declaration states:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed”

I believe in truth and I believe truth is absolute. That is not a popular concept today. Self-evident truths are obvious, without need of defense or explanation. We are individually created and created equal with individual rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of our dreams. And, by voluntary consent, the sole purpose and design of government is to protect those rights. America is a republic of laws, not a democracy of whims. That is a fact, but not as recognized as it once was. (I am not and cannot be a pragmatist and I am not and cannot be a progressivist.)

When it comes to elections, the question for me is, “Which leader can best protect and defend these original American ideals?” That has nothing to do with party and not much to do with personality. Our choices are limited and imperfect, and our perspectives can be incomplete. But truth never changes and, to me, that is the only sure anchor and touchstone for life. Jesus declared Himself to be the Truth. I believe Him. I trust and believe Him more than all the broadcast and print news media out there, whether left, right, or center. Everyone has a worldview, including everyone involved in media outlets. Their worldviews at not “checked” at the studio door. Because of the growing media polarization today, one has to triangulate the polarized reports to get any sense of where the truth is. That takes work and that takes time. “We are what we eat” and that is true about what we feed your minds. We have to be careful. Your worldview, my worldview, everyone’s worldview shows us where we place our trust as well as how we see and interpret the world around us. This is my political, social, and moral frame of reference.

On Election Day, I do not “check” my values at the door of my polling place. I enter to execute a duty to my God, my family, my neighbors, and my country. It is a sacred responsibility for which I am held accountable, and so are you.

When you go to vote, may God be with you.

Appreciating Freedom

On this 244th Independence Day, I have been impressed with the fragility of the freedoms we possess. These past months of COVID orders and riotous protests show me how quickly our liberties can be curbed, and even vanish, because of the models of the “experts” and the will of the powerful. I hope Americans take the actions and reactions of these past weeks and months to heart. It is “we the people” who possess inherent, God-given rights, not government or its agencies. Americans must be reminded of this. As a nation under God, in Whom we trust, we see that government is accountable also. It is not the highest authority. The rule of law supersedes the whims and even the dictates of any branch or agency of government that contradicts that law. Who holds them accountable? We do! But if we do not act, and individual self-government breaks down, our republic will fail and America will cease to be “the land of the free and the home of the brave.”

America is the only nation in the world based on an idea – freedom and self-government – so if we don’t understand that idea and what sacrifices were made to win that freedom and keep it for over two centuries, how can we possibly continue to keep it?  – Eric Metaxas, Author & Speaker

It takes great pains to preserve liberty. Our founding fathers knew and experienced that, and they warned us what would happen if we lapsed in our vigilance to preserve it.

A Republic must either preserve its Virtue or lose its Liberty. – Rev. John Witherspoon, Signer of the Declaration of Independence

Founding Father and our 2nd President, John Adams, wrote to his wife, Abigail, less than a year after the Declaration of Independence was signed. The war for independence was raging in the north, and Adams and his compatriots were priceless targets of the British occupational forces. Those signers had pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to see this liberation through, and with their blood, sweat, and tears. Read his letter:

I have been lately more remiss, than usual in Writing to you. There has been a great Dearth of News. Nothing from England, nothing from France, Spain, or any other Part of Europe, nothing from the West Indies. Nothing from Howe, and his Banditti, nothing from General Washington.

There are various Conjectures that Lord How is dead, sick, or gone to England, as the Proclamations run in the Name of Will. Howe only, and nobody from New York can tell any Thing of his Lordship.

I am wearied out, with Expectations that the Massachusetts Troops would have arrived, e’er now, at Head Quarters. — Do our People intend to leave the Continent in the Lurch? Do they mean to submit? or what Fatality attends them? With the noblest Prize in View, that ever Mortals contended for, and with the fairest Prospect of obtaining it upon easy Terms, The People of the Massachusetts Bay, are dead.

Does our State intend to send only half, or a third of their Quota? Do they wish to see another, crippled, disastrous and disgracefull Campaign for Want of an Army? — I am more sick and more ashamed of my own Countrymen, than ever I was before. The Spleen, the Vapours, the Dismals, the Horrors, seem to have seized our whole State.

More Wrath than Terror, has seized me. I am very mad. The gloomy Cowardice of the Times, is intollerable in N. England.

Indeed I feel not a little out of Humour, from Indisposition of Body. You know, I cannot pass a Spring, or fall, without an ill Turn — and I have had one these four or five Weeks — a Cold, as usual. Warm Weather, and a little Exercise, with a little Medicine, I suppose will cure me as usual. I am not confined, but moap about and drudge as usual, like a Gally Slave. I am a Fool if ever there was one to be such a Slave. I wont be much longer. I will be more free, in some World or other.

Is it not intollerable, that the opening Spring, which I should enjoy with my Wife and Children upon my little Farm, should pass away, and laugh at me, for labouring, Day after Day, and Month after Month, in a Conclave, Where neither Taste, nor Fancy, nor Reason, nor Passion, nor Appetite can be gratified?

Posterity! You will never know, how much it cost the present Generation, to preserve your Freedom! I hope you will make a good Use of it. If you do not, I shall repent in Heaven, that I ever took half the Pains to preserve it.*

Adams speaks to you and me in that final paragraph! Read it again!
(In Adams’ own hand…)

Be inspired. Be informed. Be involved. America needs a rebirth of freedom and the backbone it takes to preserve and defend it. It cannot be left to the politicians. We the People must speak and act. This is why we celebrate Independence Day. Make it a meaningful holiday this weekend! God bless you and may God bless America.

*Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, 26 April 1777 [electronic edition]. Adams Family Papers: An Electronic Archive. Massachusetts Historical Society. http://www.masshist.org/digitaladams/

We MUST Never Forget

“But a Constitution of Government once changed from Freedom, can never be restored. Liberty once lost is lost forever. When the People once surrender their share in the Legislature, and their Right of defending the Limitations upon the Government, and of resisting every Encroachment upon them, they can never regain it.”   –John Adams in a letter to his wife, Abigail, July 7, 1775

“Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.” –Thomas Jefferson (attributed)

But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent.
Revelation 2:4,5

 

 

HomeHeartEd

 

Here is a PDF page of all the following links:  Homeschool Emergency Resources

Homeschool Emergency Resources For “Stay-At-Home” Time

Great Resource Lists (Mostly Free):

https://wallbuilders.com/homeschooling-resources-fun-activities-for-at-home/  (most comprehensive list)

https://coronavirushomeschooling.com/  (support and resources)

https://www.ed.gov/coronavirus  (scroll down for At-Home Activities)

https://worldandeverything.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Homeschool-Resources.pdf

This list is just a quick-start—there are many other fine organizations that provide curriculum to help you as a parent-educator. Check the internet and also with your local homeschool support organizations, co-ops, and learning centers for other resources.

Free Lessons:

https://www.learnourhistoryorders.com/everbright/loh_s08_0719_000all/

http://freekidsguide.com/

https://blogs.ancestry.com/ancestry/2020/03/24/free-at-home-education-resources-from-ancestry-and-access-to-nearly-500m-national-archives-records/

https://www.mfwbooks.com/

https://www.pinterest.com/saddlebackparents/get-outside/

https://www.pinterest.com/saddlebackparents/indoor-activities/

https://www.pinterest.com/saddlebackparents/home-school/

https://veritaspress.com/60-days

https://www.slso.org/en/edu/at-home-resources/   (St. Louis Symphony Orchestra)

Check the internet for other homeschool curriculum publishers, private and online schools, for many more resources, free and purchased.

Disclaimer: This list was compiled rather quickly from many trusted resources, some faith-based and some not, some private sector and some public sector. There are so many links to so many varying organizations that it becomes nearly impossible to endorse every group and every lesson plan and activity. As with any resource list, parents need to thoroughly check out all resources. Please use your discretion and discernment to find resources that are compatible with your worldview. If you find anything blatantly incompatible with the Judeo-Christian worldview, please notify HomeHeartEducation@gmail.com. Thank you.

First Things First – Start Easter Off Right

Encouraged by COVID-19

The American response to this virus pandemic, I must say, has been very encouraging to me. (You may think I am delirious!) Though we are all inconvenienced because of it, I am grateful for this one thing: It is a culture of life that is driving these decisions to self-quarantine and isolate. We do this to preserve the most vulnerable among us, seniors with compromised health. (Perhaps God would also impress upon us the vulnerability of the pre-born as well.) The wisdom and experience of our senior population is so important to us as families, as citizens, and as a culture. Though the economy also plays a major role in how we are responding, we are not sacrificing our elders on the altar of expedience and financial cost-benefit analysis. The real ROI (return on investment) will be in the strengthening of families and culture, understanding that all God’s children are important and valuable and worth sacrificing for. Jesus thought so! Take this cloistered opportunity to build and encourage relationships with family, friends, and neighbors. Help someone around you with a kind word or deed.

“But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf,
for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” – Jeremiah 29:7

“Give and it shall be given unto you…” – Luke 6:38

House Dems Attempt Coup, Divert Media

Newt nailed it….and I couldn’t agree more:

“Pelosi is not leading an impeachment process. This is a legislative coup d’etat of a kind we have not seen in America. The left in the news media and the House want to destroy President Trump.They have been trying to destroy him since election night 2016.

“No one should be confused by the current phony, one sided, partisan impeachment. I led a serious impeachment effort with a special counsel who said President Clinton was guilty on count after count. Look at our rules for fairness and the lynch mob approach of Schiff and Pelosi.”           (Newt Gingrich on Fox and Friends this morning and Twitter.)

This nonsense has to stop. While the House Dems are chasing their dreams, who is minding the shop? (The House is in lockdown accomplishing nothing.) They are trying to set the agenda and steer the media (most of whom agree) away from their wholesale sellout of American principles and their lame duck attempt at a presidential nomination process. This election cycle is not going to be pretty. It will be wholesale desperation and lies, so hold on, America, it’s going to be a nasty ride.

Memorial Day–A Day of Remembrance

Today, we attended the first annual Memorial Day Remembrance at the newly renovated Soldiers Memorial in downtown St. Louis. Names of 554 active duty soldiers who died since the Vietnam War were read and will be engraved on the beautiful “Court of Honor” memorial in front of the Museum. Sparsely attended as it was, there was one glaring omission in the program. I have never attended any memorial service, military or civilian, that did not include a prayer. It was gravely missed. With all the beautiful renovations and upgrades since the MO Historical Society assumed control of the Memorial, I would hope that Missouri’s spiritual heritage and its traditional foundation and support of our military heritage would not also become casualties of the current cultural war of political correctness. Hopefully, this was a simple oversight and not a planned omission. May God continue to bless America, I pray.

Here is the program:

 

Today in Christian History – Jesus’ Triumphal Entry

Expectations were running high when Jesus entered into Jerusalem with the fanfare of the crowd and palm branches. They were greeting their would-be King and Deliver-Messiah. But…on a donkey? But He didn’t confront the dreaded and oppressive Roman government? He confronted the Jewish religious rulers and system instead. In less than a week, much of the crowd would turn against Him. Got questions? Watch this:

Make Jesus Lord of your life!

“…if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved”  Romans 10:9